At least 12 persons were released from a secret prison in Ukraine, the Ombudsperson of the Donetsk People’s Republic Darya Morozova said, Donetsk News Agency reported on January 25.

During a teleconference between Moscow, Donetsk, and Lugansk, Morozova said that 1.5 years ago a secret prison in Ukraine was found, and 12 persons were released from it with the UN’s help. However, this is not the only incident of a secret prison existing in Ukraine. POWs released in late 2017 in the latest large exchange also report that the practice of illegal detention remains widespread in Ukraine.

The DPR Ombudsperson plans to document the reports of the former prisoners of such prisons in the presence of UN and OSCE officials.

According to UN official information, 32,800 people have become victims of the conflict in southeastern Ukraine, including 10,056 killed. The number of those imprisoned in Ukraine on political charges is uncountable. Unofficial sources report tens of thousands.